Topias Leinonen

LIke all young goalies in the ir draft year, they basically are projections in their early play of what MIGHT come. Athleticism and commitment are always part of the initial observations, and then the snipets of good and bad in their games get tossed around and debated. This big Finn's game will be judged with same balanced scales that either tells a NHL to take a chance or stay away. He is six foot five 215, and that should be enough to cover a whole lot of net except for the times he goes down early and negates that huge size advantage. There is much evidence to the fact he can make spectacular with his athleticism and size. He is athletic and hasn't channeled his energies away from it being wasted energy and movements when he needs to stay quiet and stationary until moves are vital to stopping the puck. He loves heavy fire, and I think that is time being a jumping bean helps him when his team is on that penalty-kill. For such a big goaler, he has excellent quickness and movement skill.  He squares his shoulder and has quick pads,though his rebound control is work in progress. Mentally tough and rebounds after a goal to become acrobat in the next looks. Only a trio of goaltenders have been singled out as possibles in the top 100 sections, and he has to be projected as one of those three long term projects.

--Bill Płaczek--